Long ago in the land of Jambudvipa, there was a city called Kamalapura.
The king of that city was Saharaksa. One day, in the king’s court came
an astrologer who said the benediction and sat down. The king ask the astrologer
if he knew what was going to happen in the future?

The astrologer did not say a word. The king ask him for the second time,
and he told the king, "A severe famine is going to break out and it
will wipe out the city."

The king did not like what he heard. He called his ministers and asked
them to work out a plan where they can save the people. Ministers suggested
that they should buy as much grain as possible. The king emptied his treasure
and bought the grains, and stored them for bad days, to come.

It was the month of Ashadh (June-July). A cloud was seen in the sky.
The king looked up at the sky, and he knew, it was about to begin raining.
He said to himself, "we will get all the water we will need."

The cloud let the rain fall to the earth and the people had enough rain
for the crops to survive. This proved the astrologer was wrong.

A few days later, the king’s gardener came to the king with a message.
The message was that Sage would like to stay for this monsoon in his royal
park. The Sage was Kevaljnai, one who knows what has happened in the past,
what will happen now, and what will happen in the future, all at the same
time.

The king rewarded the gardener for this message, and ask the people
to welcome the sage and let him stay. The king went to visit the sage and
listened to his holy words. The king then asked, "Bhante! How did
it happen that the words by the astrologer were not true?" The sage
told the king, "The famine was unavoidable. But it was averted because
of the birth of an pious soul in your city. The astrologer did not realize
that."

The king was eager to know about this pious soul, and his good deeds.

Sage stated. "In the land of Bharat there was a city called Purimatala.
In the city, there was a rich man, who had suddenly gotten sick. He tried
his best to improve his health. He did not succeed. His wealth did not
help him. One day, he met a monk and after listening to his sermon, he
decided to give up his regular food and decided to stay on simple food
without any spices or salt. He, also decided to meditate and be celibate.
His health improved in a few days. His pledge grew even stronger now. He
continued his diet practice, and stayed celibate. He once again started
taking care of his business, and he even became more wealthy.

Once there was a famine, and he used all his wealth to support the people.
People could survive the famine and rain came the next year. After he finished
his life, he was born as a deva (heavenly angel) and from there he was
reborn in your city, as a son of shravika Subuddhi.

The king was happy to hear this. So, after he left from there, first,
he went to Subuddhi’s house to pay respects to the pious soul. He saw the
child and blessed him. It was at this time, he gave him the name Dharmkumar.

As Dharmkumar grew up, he was married to a beautiful, religious, young
woman. They lived very happy. In his later years, he joined the holy order
for monks, and after performing austerities, and meditation he attained
Kevaljnana.